In expedition, we have used maps and digital technologies to find rivers and canals in the UK. We found several rivers and canals that flow through Doncaster such as River Don, River Torne, River Went, New Junction Canal and Stainforth and Keadby Canal. We then used the maps and iPads to label the rivers in the UK. To consolidate our learning over the last few lessons, we completed a Kahoot quiz.

Today, we looked at the different ways in which we use rivers. We first started by exploring the rivers and canals that flow through Doncaster. This included the River Don, Stainforth and Keadby and New Junction Canals. We recognised a couple of the photos which were taken in Doncaster. Then we looked at the uses of rivers and canals. We found that we can use rivers for transportation, leisure, irrigation, hydroelectric power, drinking water, habitats and ecosystems, and fishing. We then matched the use to the impact that it can have on the environment. Some of them had both positive and negative impacts on the environment. For example, people who use rivers for leisure activities such as kayaking and canoeing are improving their physical and mental health but they could pollute the waters and destroy habitats.

In our lesson, we used our prior knowledge about tectonic plates and began to deepen our thinking around what they could cause. We discussed how the movement of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes. There are three different tectonic plate boundaries where earthquakes occur: convergent, divergent and conservative. We then demonstrated our newfound knowledge in an experiment. We used crackers and cream to show how the tectonic plates move at the different boundaries. At the divergent plate boundary, the tectonic plates move apart. At a convergent plate boundary, the plates move together and the denser oceanic plate subducts under the lighter continental plate. Finally, at a conservative plate boundary, tectonic plates slide past each other. Friction happens and pressure builds up which is released as an earthquake. We showed these using the crackers and cream!